2026 KBO Wild Card Schedule and How to Watch on October 14
The 2026 KBO Wild Card series begins on October 14 (South Korea) at the regular-season fourth-place team's home stadium. The fourth-place team advances with a win or a tie in one game, while the fifth-place team must win both games.
- Game 1 of the Wild Card series is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- All games, up to a maximum of two, will be played at the regular-season fourth-place team's home stadium.
- The fourth-place team advances to the semi-playoffs with one win or a tie.
- The fifth-place team must win both games to advance to the semi-playoffs.
- Check the official KBO game schedule for the final matchup, game times, and broadcast listings.
The 2026 KBO Wild Card schedule begins with Game 1 on Wednesday, October 14. The games will be played at the home ballpark of the team that finished 4th in the regular season. The 4th-place team advances to the semi-playoffs with a win or a tie. The 5th-place team must win both games.
The schedule and game format in this article are based on KBO's announcement of October 7, 2026.
Game 1 date and venue
The first game is scheduled for October 14, 2026. The ballpark will be determined by which team finishes 4th in the regular season. Even if Game 2 is needed, the series will not move to the 5th-place team's home ballpark.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | 2026 KBO postseason Wild Card series |
| Game 1 date | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 |
| Matchup | Teams finishing 4th and 5th in the regular season |
| Venue | Both games at the 4th-place team's home ballpark |
| Number of games | At most 2 |
| Condition for Game 2 | The 5th-place team wins Game 1 |
| Specific teams and start times | Check the KBO schedule for final details |
| Broadcasts | Check the TV and radio listings on the KBO schedule |
The October 7 announcement of the postseason opening does not name the teams in the matchup. This article does not treat team names appearing in search summaries as a confirmed matchup. For viewing details, use the latest schedule for each game.
What is the Wild Card series?
The Wild Card series determines which of the 4th- and 5th-place teams advances to the semi-playoffs. Their paths to advancement differ because of their regular-season standings. They do not start on equal footing in a race to two wins.
KBO's “2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Postseason Opens October 14” states:
The Wild Card series consists of at most 2 games.
The semi-playoffs and playoffs are each best-of-five series. The Korean Series is best of seven. The treatment of ties in the Wild Card series differs from that in other series. KBO postseason announcement
KBO Wild Card advancement conditions
The 4th-place team advances if it wins or ties a game. The 5th-place team needs 2 wins. The table below sets out possible outcomes under the rules, not actual results.
| Game 1 result | Game 2 result | Team advancing to the semi-playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| 4th-place team wins | Not played | 4th-place team |
| Tie | Not played | 4th-place team |
| 5th-place team wins | 4th-place team wins | 4th-place team |
| 5th-place team wins | Tie | 4th-place team |
| 5th-place team wins | 5th-place team wins | 5th-place team |
A win in the first game does not secure advancement for the 5th-place team. It keeps the contest going to Game 2. Even if the 4th-place team loses the first game, it can secure advancement in the next one.
What to watch for in extra innings and ties
Games can go to at most 15 innings. If the score is still tied after the 15th inning, the game is declared a tie. In the Wild Card series, that tie sends the 4th-place team to the semi-playoffs.
- The key question in the first game is whether the 5th-place team wins and forces another game.
- The 5th-place team also needs a win in Game 2.
- In a close game, watch the innings remaining as well as the score difference.
Do not read a tie as simply postponing the decision. The rules for extra games after ties in other series do not apply either. This difference is specified in the extra-innings rules in KBO's announcement of the postseason opening. KBO extra-innings and tie rules
Distinguishing remaining regular-season games from rain-related changes
Some remaining regular-season games may be played after the postseason begins. KBO allows remaining games to be scheduled for teams not involved in that series. Do not classify every game as a postseason game based on its date alone.
A game that cannot start because of rain is moved to the next day. If a game is interrupted after it starts, suspended-game rules apply. The game is paused and resumed later.
| Situation | How to interpret the schedule or result |
|---|---|
| Games involving other teams appear after the postseason begins | Check whether they are remaining regular-season games |
| A game is not played because of rain or other conditions | Check the revised date |
| A game is paused after it starts | Distinguish it from a tie and check when play will resume |
| The 4th-place team wins or ties Game 1 | Game 2 is no longer needed |
No-game rulings and rain-shortened games do not apply in the 2026 postseason. An interrupted game should not immediately be interpreted as a tie either. When planning to attend, check the game's status as well as its date. KBO guidance on rain delays and remaining games
Comparing ways to watch and attend
For broadcasts, check the schedule for each game. For attending in person, check the separate ticket announcement. The KBO schedule lists start times, ballparks, and TV and radio coverage. Do not assume a particular broadcaster or ticket price without checking.
| How to follow the game | Information to check | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Watch on TV | Start time and broadcast channel | TV listing on the KBO schedule |
| Listen on radio | Whether the game has radio coverage | Radio listing on the KBO schedule |
| Attend in person | Ballpark, ticket sales start time, seat prices, official seller | Ticket announcements for the game from KBO and the participating clubs |
KBO's general ticket guide lists sellers by club. That list alone cannot confirm the seller for this game. Use the seller named in the postseason ticket announcement. KBO ticket guide
To check the final schedule, follow these steps.
- Open the game schedule and results under Schedule and Results on the KBO website.
- Set the year and month to October 2026.
- Check the competition category and the teams, start time, and ballpark for the game.
- Check the TV and radio listings along with any notices of rain-related changes.
Even for games on the same date, check the competition category first. If information does not appear in the table, reset the selection options. Check each game through the official KBO schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Will both games be played?
Not necessarily. Game 2 is played only if the 5th-place team wins the first game. If the 4th-place team wins or ties, the series ends after the first game.
Does the 5th-place team advance with 1 win and 1 tie?
No. The 5th-place team needs two wins. If a tie follows its first win, the 4th-place team advances.
Is Game 2 played at the 5th-place team's home ballpark?
Game 2 is also played at the 4th-place team's home ballpark. The teams do not alternate home ballparks. The venue rule is the same whether or not Game 2 is needed.
Where can I check the start time and ticket prices?
Check the official KBO schedule for the start time. For ticket prices, use the official sales announcement for that game. Do not use regular-season prices as postseason prices.
FAQ
When is Game 1 of the 2026 KBO Wild Card Series?
According to KBO's October 7, 2026 announcement, Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14. Check the official game schedule for changes due to rain or other factors.
Where is the Wild Card Series played?
The series has up to two games, both held at the home stadium of the team that finishes fourth in the regular season. Game 2 does not move to the fifth-place team's home stadium.
What does the fourth-place team need to do to advance to the Semi-Playoffs?
It advances if it wins or ties either of the two games. If it meets that condition in Game 1, Game 2 is not played.
Can the fifth-place team advance by winning only the first game?
Winning the first game alone is not enough. It must win both games to advance to the Semi-Playoffs.
What happens if the fifth-place team wins the first game and ties the next?
The fourth-place team advances to the Semi-Playoffs. The fifth-place team's record of 1 win and 1 tie does not meet the requirements to advance.
How many innings can a game go in extra innings?
Postseason games in 2026 can go to a maximum of 15 innings. If the score is still tied after the 15th inning, the game ends in a tie.
Is a game suspended by rain also a tie?
A rain suspension is different from a tie. In the 2026 postseason, suspended-game rules apply when a game is interrupted.
Are there no regular-season games at all during the postseason?
Remaining regular-season games involving teams not part of the series in question may be played. Check the type of competition as well as the date on the schedule.
Where can I check the final matchups and broadcast channels?
You can check the game schedule and results under Schedule and Results on the KBO website. Check the team names, time, stadium, and TV and radio listings for the game.
Can I buy tickets from the same place I use for regular-season games?
Do not rely solely on the general list of team ticket sellers to determine where postseason tickets are sold. Check the ticket announcements for that game from KBO and the participating teams for the seller and prices.
Sources
Images
